Six Boulder County organizations received a total of $6.5 million in grant funding to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
The state of Colorado allocated $33 million toward homeless solutions in 2022 by passing HB 22-1377. The bill requires grant funding to be divided among local governments and nonprofit organizations that have programs to serve people experiencing homelessness.
Six Boulder County organizations applied and received “20% of the state’s grant program in the first round of available funds,” according to a news release from Boulder County.
Homeless Solutions for Boulder County and partners has prioritized below the following homelessness services and responses with the awarded funds for each government agency or organization.
- Boulder County Community Services: Hiring of full-time staff members for HSBC systems work to increase capacity, Bridge Housing and outreach staff support in mountain communities.
- Boulder County Housing and Human Services: Creation of two new programs to address family homelessness and housing instability, including utilizing funds towards the Family Bridge Housing program (a county-wide collaboration with community partners who also provide homeless resources and will focus on emergency housing, food, and transportation resources while families experiencing homelessness secure housing through permanent solutions) and the Housing Helpline that provides tenant and landlord information, outreach, and housing navigation.
- Boulder Shelter for Homeless: Hiring of full-time and part-time staff members to support innovative housing-focused case management, volunteer program and shelter operations, meal service and kitchen operations, IT/data in systems improvements, landlord relations and housing retention, and a dedicated vehicle for outreach.
- City of Boulder Housing and Human Services: Creation of a respite center, a 24/7 facility for individuals experiencing homelessness to recuperate from medical challenges.
- Mental Health Partners: Supportive services to unhoused adults experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges, case management, street outreach, eviction and homelessness prevention, and a targeted systems improvement and evaluation.
HOPE for Longmont and Focus ReEntry also applied for grants. These organizations expect to hear a decision in the second round of funding.
